50 Ways to Save the Ocean

by David Helvarg & Jim Toomey

50 Ways to Save the Ocean is a practical guide to protecting and conserving the ocean. The book addresses our many daily choices that affect the ocean's health:

< What fish should and should not be eaten
< How and where to vacation
< Storm drains and driveway run-off
< Protecting local water tables
< Proper diving, surfing, and tide pool etiquette
< Supporting local marine education

50 Ways to Save the Ocean also addresses many of the major ocean issues affecting us today: toxic runoff; protections for wetlands and sanctuaries; offshore drilling; coral reefs; and fish preserves.

Our friends at Blue Frontier Campaign have created some educational materials which help adapt the book into classroom-friendly material.

50 Ways to Save the Ocean

1. Go to the beach
2. Visit an aquarium
3. Eat organic and vegetarian foods whenever possible
4. If you chose to eat seafood make sure it’s sustainable
5. Grow a natural yard; plant a garden
6. Maintain an earth- (and ocean-) friendly driveway. Try a green roof.
7. Reduce toxic household pollutants
8. Drive a fuel-efficient car, car pool, or use public transit
9. Don’t use your storm drain as a toilet
10. Support marine education in our schools
11. Support your local swamp
12. Restore a stream, river or watershed
13. Get married on a wild beach
14. Build or buy well back from the beach
15. Upgrade your house above hurricane code
16. When diving – take only pictures, leave only bubbles
17. Count the fish, then do some light housekeeping for them
18. Join in a beach clean-up
19. Don’t waste water
20. Save energy for yourself and the sea
21. Protect the dunes so they'll protect you
22. Be a blue boater
23. Go slow around manatees, birds and other boats
24. Go to a zoning board meeting
25. Join a marine mammal rescue center
26. Be a marine sanctuary volunteer
27. Create your own wilderness parks under the sea
28. Keep an ocean-friendly aquarium
29. Don’t dump “exotic” plants and animals
30. Don’t shell out for sea turtle products
31. Don’t feed the sharks (or let them feed on you)
32. Go on a whale-watching trip
33. Take your kids to a tide pool
34. Take your kids surfing (or have them take you)
35. Use less plastic
36. Fish for fun, food and the future
37. Find out if your cruise ship is ocean friendly
38. Walk on whatever beach you want
39. Learn your local maritime history
40. Get to know a coastie
41. Don’t buy coral jewelry or (sea) snake oil remedies
42. Be a careful consumer and traveler
43. Talk to your cousin in Kansas about the weather
44. Learn the tides and the navigation charts
45. Join an ocean expedition from your home computer or in person
46. Keep oil off your shore
47. Buy an ocean-friendly license plate or bake a cookie
48. Find joy and solace in the sea and talk about it in your place of worship
49. Vote the coast
50. Be a seaweed rebel